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Synopses of Key National Defense and National
Security Provisions

Espionage -- 18 U.S.C.§ 792 et seq. The espionage provisions
of
Chapter 37, Title 18, United States Code, deal with documents, material, or
information, related to the national defense. Key provisions of Chapter 37
include the following sections:

Section 793 applies to activities such as gathering, transmitting
to
an unauthorized person, or losing, information pertaining to the national
defense, and to conspiracies to commit such offenses.

Section 794 applies to: (1) persons who deliver, or attempt to
deliver, information pertaining to the national defense of the United States
to agents or subjects of foreign countries, with intent or reason to believe
that it is to be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage
of a foreign nation; (2) wartime espionage; and (3) conspiracy to commit
espionage.

Section 798 applies to the willful communication of classified
information concerning codes or communications intelligence, or related
materials, to an unauthorized person. John J. Dion, Chief of the Espionage
Unit of the Internal Security Section can be reached at (202) 514-1245.

Espionage Related Offenses -- Treason 18 U.S.C. §§ 2381 and
2382. The crime of treason is covered in 18 U.S.C. § 2381. It
proscribes levying war against the United States and giving comfort to the
enemy. Misprision of treason is also unlawful. 18 U.S.C. § 2382.

Computer Espionage -- 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(1). Section
1030(a)(1)
of Title 18, U.S.C., makes it unlawful to knowingly access a computer
without authorization, or beyond the scope of one's authorization, and
thereby obtain information that has been classified for national defense or
foreign relations reasons, with intent or reason to believe that such
information is to be used to the injury of the United States or to the
advantage of a foreign nation.

Communication or Receipt of Classified Information -- 50 U.S.C. §
783. Section 783 of Title 50, U.S.C., makes it unlawful for any officer
or employee of the United States, or of any federal department or agency, to
communicate to any person whom he or she knows or has reason to believe to
be an agent of a foreign government, any information classified by the
President or by the head of such department or agency as affecting the
security of the United States, knowing or having reason to know that such
information has been so classified. See 50 U.S.C. § 783(b).
Conversely, it is unlawful for a foreign agent knowingly to receive
classified information from a United States government employee, unless
special authorization has been obtained. See 50 U.S.C.
§ 783(c).

Foreign Agents -- 18 U.S.C. § 951. Section 951 of Title 18,
United States Code, makes it unlawful for foreign agents to act as such
without notifying the Attorney General, unless the agent is entitled to a
statutory exemption from the registration requirement.